Wrapping machine



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WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. '5, 1940 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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May 12, 1942, o. SANDBERG 2,283,097

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 l Q w l w I t W? 3 Q Q W M INVENTOR. flacarfi'andbefg, zwym A TTQRNE Y5.

May '12, 1942.

o. SANDBERG WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR. OJ'COJ 5022616673,

ATTORNEYS.

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' WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 8- CURRENT SUPPL Y x N S Q a L g INVENTOR g BY Oscar 3 a 272W fi m ATTORNEYS.

0. SANDBERG WRAPPING MACHINE May 12, 1942.

Filed Feb. 5, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 0 5 INVENTOR.

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WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 1o INVENTOR.

. 05w 25m 9 w ATTORNEYS Patented May 12, 1942 WRAPPING MACHINE Oscar Sandberg, Defiance, Ohio, assignor to Modern Equipment Corporation,

Defiance,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 5, 1940, Serial No. 317,370

19 Claims.

My present application has to do with a machine for wrapping articles such as candy bars and the like and is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 179,260, filed December 11, 1937 now Patent No. 2,208,776, issued July 23, 1940.

One object of the invention is to provide a wrapping machine to which unwrapped candy bars, or other irregular shaped objects, may be fed and will be wrapped therein with one or more thicknesses of wrapping paper or the like in such manner that the wrapped bar presents an attractive appearance due to uniformity of size and shape of the wrapped bars, regardless of the shapes of the bars themselves.

Another object is to provide a Wrapping machine into which bars, cards, and paper may be introduced, the machine being so designed as to periodically position one of the bars on one of the cards, advance it to a position in registry with a sheet of the wrapping paper and then perform folding operations on the paper so that the bar and card are enclosed therein and the result is a uniform, substantially cubicle package regardless of rounded ends of the bars, nut kernels projecting from the surface of the bars and other irregularities thereof.

Another object is to provide operating mechanism for a bar conveyor, for the card and paper feeding mechanism and for the wrapping mechanism, as well as for a wrapped'bar conveyor which expels the wrapped bars from the machine, the foregoing mechanisms being operatively associated with each other for proper synchronous operation in an automatic manner requiring only the supply of bars, cards and wrapping paper to the machine by the operator thereof.

Still another object is to provide a wrapping machine in which a bar and card conveyor conveys the bars and cards from a bar feeding conveyor and a card hopper respectively to a position in registry with a wrapper, mechanism being associated with the bar and card conveyor to stop the machine if an exceptionally long or thick bar, unsuitable for wrapping, is discharged from the bar feed conveyor onto the bar and card conveyor, an automatic control device being also associated with the bar and card conveyor to be engaged by a bar, if one is present thereon, and

efiect the movement of a wrapper into position for wrapping the bars.

Still another object is to provide mechanism to discharge a card from the machine in case there is no bar on it.

A further object is to provide means for supporting two webs of wrapping paper, means for cutting the webs into wrappers and feedin the wrappers to position for wrapping the bars and cards, the feeding mechanism including an electric viewing mechanism operated by marks on the web of wrapping paper and operative through speed change mechanism that propels the Web of paper into the machine to change the speed thereof and thereby keep periodic advertising material on the wrapping paper in step with the bars as they are fed to wrapping position so that the advertising material will always be centered on the bars, regardless of irregularities in paper feed as caused by slippage and other factors.

A further object is to provide the speed changing mechanism in the form of a shaft driven by a pair of belts, one at a higher speed than required and the other at a relatively lower speed, the high speed belt being normally the controlling factor in paper feed and the slow speed belt being a modifying factor, operable if required for each of the wrappers to be cut from the web, the electric eye viewing mechanism being operatively associated with the slow speed belt to bring it into play and to vary the time period of such play, depending upon requirements determined by the amount that each wrapper is out of step with the wrapping mechanism.

A further object is to provide for cutting the web of wrapping paper into sheets or wrappers somewhat longer than the bar,the cutting mechanism being associated and timed with the web feeding mechanism and thereby adjusted for'cutting the web at the proper points by the electric eye viewing mechanism, paper feed belts being provided for transferring the wrapper to wrapping position after it is cut from the web.

It is a further object of my invention to provide mechanism for applying adhesive to each Wrapper before the wrapper assumes Wrapping position, and to provide an electric heater efiective to set the adhesive after the bar and card have been completely wrapped and as they are being expelled from the machine.

Still a further object is to provide wrapping instrumentalitie which first crease the wrapper along parallel lines to insure a neat, right angle bend along the upper side edges of the wrapper, and then drape the sides and ends of the wrapper down the sides and ends of the bar and across the edges of the card, after which the end flaps are folded tightly into position under the bottom of the card and finally one side flap and then the other are folded under the bottom of the card, whereupon the adhesive on the wrapper is brought into position for sticking the side flaps together under the bar and the card.

Still a further object is to provide a wrapped bar conveyor for discharging the wrapped bar from the machine and, in doing so, bringing the bar to a position over an electric heater to set the adhesive, the discharge conveyor including means to retain the bars in parallel position in a chute so that they may be readily removed therefrom and neatly placed in layers in cartons.

Each article wrapped by the machine a package of substantially cubicle shape, with neat square corners, regardless of the shape of the bar within the package.

With these and other objects in view, my invention with respect to its features which I believe to be novel and patentable will be pointed out in the claims appended hereto. Although the inventicn is susceptible of a variety of embodiments, the attached drawings are chosen with a view to illustrating one embodiment and are not intended to be exhaustive, nor are they to be taken as limiting of the invention. On the contrary, they are chosen with a view to illustrating my invention so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply it under varying conditions of practical use and may make such changes and modifications therein as conditions require, without departing from thespirit and purpose of the invention. In describing the 1nvention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a rear end elevation of my wrapping machine;

Figure 2 is a side elevation from the right side thereof with web reels, wrapper advancing rolls and adhesive applying mechanism omitted:

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing a plan view of the wrapping table, omitting a bar and card conveyor, wrapperfeed belts and a folding way;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 to show various operating mechanisms and their relation to each other, the supporting frame therefor being omitted;

Figure 5 is a further enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, showing part of the wrapper folding mechanism and wrapper feed belts of the machine;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5:

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line '|--'I of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 88 of Figure 1, showing driving mechanism for the wrapper cutting and feeding instrumentalities, the central portion thereof being broken away to conserve space on the drawings;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view on the line 9-4 of Figure 8 and shows a front elevation of the right half of the lower portion of the machine;

Figure 10 is also taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8 and shows the left half of the front of the machine with parts of the supporting frame for a speed changing mechanism, feed rollers, a cutter, and adhesive applying mechanism being shown in section on the line iU-lll of Figure 2;

Figure 10a illustrates a section of the wrapping paper or web used in my machine;

Figure 11 is an enlarged elevation from the reverse side of the machine showing a ratchet feed for a bar and card conveyor;

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional View on the line i2i2 of Figure 3 showing an automatic stopping arrangement for the machine;

Figure 13 is a sectional view on the line i3-I3 of Figure 2 showing details of the card hopper of the machine;

Figure 14 is a sectional view on the line 14- of Figure 8 showing a clutch device for the paper feeding and cutting mechanism;

Figure 15 is a three-quarter elevation as taken in section on the line Iii-I5 of Figure 5 to show details of construction of the folding way of the machine;

Figure 16 is a sectional view on the line 16-16 of Figure 5 showing the operation of a wrapper creasing means;

Figure 17 is a perspective view illustrating one step in the method of wrapping a, wrapper around a card and article, as performed in my machine;

Figure 18 is a sectional view through a wrapper that has been draped in the folding way of the machine, showing the association of an elevator and a forked supporting arm with the card and article being wrapped, and

Figures 19, 20 and 21 are perspective views,

similar to Figure 17, illustrating further steps in the wrapping method.

My machine has to do with the wrapping of irregularly shaped articles as, for instance, candy bars of the type commonly sold in drug and grocery stores. Heretofore in the wrapping of such articles, there has been no provision made for shaping the wrapper in a predetermined, neat formation, andusually the bars were wrapped by hand with the wrapper more or less conformmg to the shape of the bar. An undesirable result from hand wrapping is the likelihood of adherence of the wrapper to the article, especially if it is of a, sticky nature as is usual with candy bars. Also, many bars have nut kernels as one of their ingredients, and often these project from the surface of the bar. When the wrapper more or less conforms to such surface, the appearance of the wrapper is further depreciated. Subsequently, when the article is unwrapped its appearance is not all that is usually expected of I have designed a machine'with the main object in view of remedying this condition by providing an elevator for the bar and a card supporting the bar, means being provided to effect an initial crease in the wrapper along what subsequently become the upper side edges of the package, the elevator having blades against which end flaps of the packages are folded as the ele vator rises beneath a wrapper and carries with it the wrapper, the bar and the card. As the elevator rises, the wrapper is thus draped over the bar as it passes stationary side and end folding lnstrumentalities until it reaches the uppermost point of its travel. 'I'hereupon, the portions of the side and end flaps which depend below the card are folded beneath the card and secured in position for completing the wrapping operaion.

The foregoing operations are all rfo automatically, it being merely necessar foi th: operator to see that the machine is supplied at all times with candy bars, or other articles to be glrgrlajilaied, cards and webs of wrapping paper or Referring now to the specific construction of connected together by cross members 28 and 22. At the top of the frame members F, a table T is su dfJournaled in the frame members F is a main drive shaft 24.- The drive shaft 24 has secured .thereto a gear 26. The gear 26 meshes with a pinion 28 on a countershaft 38, A pulley 32 is secured to the countershaft 38 and is driven by a belt 34 from a motor M.

The motor M is controlled by a toggle switch S. A manual lever 36 is provided for latching the toggle switch S in on position. When the lever 36 is lowered against the bias of a spring 41,

as shown in Figure 12, a dog 38 thereof engages under a latch 48. The latch 48 is adapted to be released by either a stop plate 42 of a stop plate 39 when the plate 42 is engaged by the end of a candy bar or when the plate 38 is engaged by the top of one, as will hereinafter be described. The plate 42 is carried by a .rod 45 slidable through a bar and card conveyor side member 4|, the opposite side member being shown at 43.

At the back end of the machine, a conveyor trough 44 (see Figure 1) is supported on stationary rods 46. A bar feed conveyor chain 48 traverses the trough 44 and is driven by a shaft 58, a chain 52 and a sprocket 54 on a shaft 338. The manner of rotating the shaft 338 will be hereinafter described. The chain 48 has lugs 58 adapted to engage candy bars B placed thereon by the operator and advance them toward a bar and card conveyor chain 58. The stop plate 38 is arranged to be engaged by a candy bar B in the conveyor 44 if such bar is too large in diameter to be properly wrapped by the machine.

The chain 58 travels at right angles to the chain 48 and is provided with pockets 68 to receive the respective bars. The conveyor chain 58 traverses sprockets 62, 64 and 66 and is driven intermittently and in synchronism with the chain 48 by a chain 88 and ratchet mechanism associated therewith, which will now be described.

The ratchet mechanism is shown in Figure 11 and includes a ratchet shaft I8 on which it 18 and is driven by a crank arm 88. The crank pn 82 of the crank arm 88 is connected by a link 84 -to the pawl arm I8.

A pair of holding pawls -'I5 and II are provided for holding the ratchet wheel I4 against rotation in reverse and forward directions respectively to insure that the conveyor chain 58 remains stationary during the return movement of the pawl I5. As the arm I8 swings in a counterclockwise or advance direction, a cam surface 8| thereof engages a roller I9 on the pawl IT to lift the pawl as shown in Figure 11 to clear the ratchet teeth and thereby permit the ratchet wheel I4 to be advanced. The pawls I8 and II are biased tofrom the sprockets 66 to the sprocket 62.

ward the ratchet wheel I4 by springs 83 and 85,

1 respectively.

III

A ca op e 10.0 is o n ed on a b eeliet 182 which mums ,s nner dlo oreof the I he lower end of the hen ee m is a pocket 88 of the conveyor 68 while the bar conveyor 44 i opposi e the ne t f ward r k a ho by th t pock s .40 l us ted in Figure 3. Cards C are stacked in the hopper I88 an are ap to b expell d thr u h a sl I83 therefrom one at a time into the pockets 88 of the bar and card conveyor' 58 by a reciprocating blade I84 (see Figure l3).

For operating the blade I84, I provide a bracket I88 secured thereto (see Figure l) and a rodlike link I88 slidable through the bracket I82 on the right hand rod 48 and through a com-v panion bracket II8 on the left hand rod 46 (see Figure 3). The rod I88 is connected vby a link II2'to a rocker arm II4 secured to a rock shaft H8. The rock shaft H8 is oscillated once each revolution of the ratchet wheel I4 so that a card C is expelled from the hopper I88 into each pocket 68 of the conveyor 58 and against a stop pin II3.

For rocking the shaft II6, I provide mechanism connected with the main shaft 24 and comprising a lever II8 on the rock shaft, 'a yoke I20 driven by the main shaft and a link I22 connecting the two together (see Figures 1 and 4). The yoke I28 is pivoted to the frame F at I24 and is oscillated on its pivot by a crank pin I26 of a crank arm- I28. The crank arm is secured to the main shaft 24.

Pivoted on a rod I48 (see Figure 3, left hand end) is a boss I38 urged by a spring I32 .to rotate counterclockwise. A card lifting rod I34 extends forwardly from the boss I38 and is normally urged to the position shown dotted in Figure 1 by the spring I32. A guide rod I36 is a further aid in the card removing operation which v will be described later.

In order to keep the pockets 68 from tipping as they advance from a position opposite the bar conveyor 44 and the card hopper I88 toward the table T, I provide a pair of guide bars I38 engaging the bottoms of the pockets as they pass The bars I38 are supported at their ends on rods I48 and MI which, in turn, are supported at their ends by brackets I42 and I43. The brackets I42 in turn are supported on the rods 46. The rods I48 and MI also support a bar I45 along which the conveyor chain 58 travels.

Wrappers for the bars" B are supplied in the form of inner and outer webs W and W' of the proper width and continuous length wound from reels R and R. The reels R and R have pintles I44 supported for rotation in seatsof a pair of brackets I46. To prevent excess rotation of the rolls of web W and W, flexible straps I48 pass frictionally thereover and terminate in weights I58. The webs W and W pass under a weight roller I52 carried by a pair of arms I54 pivoted at I56 to the lower ends of the brackets I46.

After passing under theroller I52, the .webs W and W extend upwardly between an electric eye mechanism I58 and a light source therefor indicated at I68. The purpose of the electric eye mechanism is to have marks I62 on the web W" (see Figure 10a) passthe electric eye and the eye in turn regulate the speed of feeding the web and determine the, position at which it is out into individual Wrappers W" before the wrappers are wrapped around the bars B. The desirable point of cutting is indicated by dotted lines I64, so that the web, printed with a re- T4,. pattern-(one foreach bar), will be cut exactly-between-thepatterns. The web W may be .either, Cellophane or waxed paper printed with, the trade name :of .the: contents and the name of the'maker or distributor thereof as is "usually done, while theinner web W may be tissue, waxed paper, Cellophane or thelike.

-The webs W and W, after leaving the electric eye I88, pass over an idler roller I86 and then around a feed roller I68 (see Figure Above the roller 168 a driver roller I10-is provided, at

least the roller I10 being-oi rubber or the like to provide a good grip on the webs W and W and to propel them toward the table T when the roller I10 is rotated counterclockwise by a chain I12 (see Figure 10). 1

' For maintaining proper pressure between the rollers I68 and I10, the shaft I14 of the roller I 10 is carried at its ends by eccentric levers I16. The eccentric levers I16 are pivoted at their centers bymeans of pintles I18 to brackets I80, which form the end plates for supporting the rollers I60 and I68. The levers I18 are urged in the proper direction for moving the roller I10 toward the roller I 68 by springs I 82.

For driving the chain I12, 11 provide a sprocket I84 on'a shaft I86. The shaft I86 is journaled in the front frame member F and in a bracket I88 secured thereto, as shown in Figure 8. The shaft I86 has secured thereto a high speed V pulley I90 and a low speed V pulley I8I. For driving the V pulleys I90 and I8,I, I provide a pair of belts I82 and I98. The belt I 82 extends around a V pulley I84 and the belt I88 extends around a smaller V pulley I88. The pulleys I84 and I98 are secured to a countershaft I88.

The countershaft in turn is driven through a clutch mechanism (consisting of a notched disc 200, an arm 202 and a pivoted dog 204) from a sprocket wheel 206. The sprocket wheel 206 is loose on the shaft I98 and is retained in position by a collar 208. The sprocket wheel 206 is driven by a chain 2I0 from a sprocket wheel 2I2. The sprocket wheel 2I2 is secured to the main shaft 24.

The clutch consisting of the parts 200, 202 and 204 is adapted to be released and the shaft I98 to thereby be operated only when there is a bar approaching position to be wrapped. The mechanism for accomplishing this result is shown par- 2,2"s'3 ,oe7 x i idler m is providence Figure 10). The-idler 238 is mounted on a shaft 210 carried by an arm 240 pivoted on the shaft I98. The arm 240 has .a downward extension 242 normally engaged with a'stop 246 by a spring 244. The stop-248 is secured to a rocker arm 248 pivoted at 250on a fbraoket 252. A spring 254 normally urges the tion when the idler 238 is in the position of ticularly in Figures 3, 8 and 14. A vertical rock shaft 2I4 is journaled in brackets 2I6 extending from the rear frame member F.

At its upper end, the shaft 2 I4 is provided with a candy bar engaging lever 2I8 adapted to be engaged by the candy bar as it is advanced by the conveyor 58. This rotates the rock shaft 2I4 clockwise and swings a lever 220 at its lower end to engage and swing a lever 222 out of position in front of a shoulder 224 on the dog 204. Gravity thereupon causes the dog 204 to drop and a hook 226 thereon to engage the notch 228 in the disc 200 as soon as the notch comes to a position of registry with the hook. Thereupon the arm 202 and the shaft I98 will be rotated in unison.

The arm 222 is pivoted at 230 to a bracket 232 secured to the frame F. A spring 234 serves to normally retain the lever 222 against a stop 236 until the lever 220 swings the lever 222 toward the left in Figure 8, due to clockwise rotation of the vertical shaft 2I4 as already described.

Each time the shaft I98 is rotated one revolution, the pulleys I94 and I96 are also rotated one revolution. The belt I92 is normally the driving factor for the shaft I86. For this purpose, an

. belt I92.

Figure 10. 1

The low speed belt I93 is normally loose, as

illustrated, and is adapted to be tightened simultaneously' with the loosening of the high speed This is accomplished by mounting a link 262 on the lever 240 and having the lever 262 carry an idler 264 for the belt I93. Also for the belt I83 an adjustable idler 266 is provided, to compensate for stretching of the belt as the machine is operated.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that the spring 244 would loosen the idler pulley 236 and tighten the idler pulley 264 whenever the solenoid 256 is energized. There would be nothing, however, to return the idlers to their initial position. To accomplish this purpose, I provide the following described mechanism.

A rod268 is pivoted at its upper end to the shaft I10 (see Figures 4 and 10). The shaft 210 extends rearwardly from the lever 240 through an arcuate slot 212 invthe front frame member F. Back of the front frame member, a lever 214 similar to the lever 240 is pivoted on the shaft I98 and supports the shaft 210 so that it can be swung through its operating cycle without binding. The lower end of the rod 268 terminates in a fork 216 straddling the main shaft 24.

The main shaft has a cam 218 thereon for propelling the rod 268 upwardly through the medium of a roller 280 carried by the fork 216 and engaging the cam surface of the cam. If the stop member 246 were to remain in the dotted position of Figure 10, it will be obvious that during a period extending over about two-thirds of a revolution of the main shaft 24, the lever 240 would be shifted by the spring 244 to loosen the high speed belt I92 and tighten the low speed belt I83. The duration of such period is shortened, however by actuating the solenoid 256 so that the stop 246 is removed from in front of the extension 242 of the lever 240 prior to the expiration of the two-thirds period of revolution mentioned. The relative position in the twothirds period, where the solenoid 256 operates,

would determine the duration of the last portion of that period effective to loosen the high speed belt and tighten the low speed belt. The speed of the shaft I86 and thereby of the feed rollers I 68 and I10 is thereby governed in accordance with the marks I62 on the wrapper web W in a manner which will appear when describing the operation of the machine in detail.

In Figure 10, I have also shown electrical connections from a source of current supply to the electric eye I58, the light source I60 and the solenoid 256. No attempt has been made to go into detail, the essential characteristics being continuous energization of the light source I60 and operation of the solenoid 256 only when the electric eye I58 is actuated and thereby establishes a circuit for the solenoid.

As the webs W and W pass from the roller I66 to the roller I68, two spots 283 of adhesive are applied to each wrapper section by adhesive applying pins 282 (see Figure 10). The pins 282 are rotated by a shaft 284 and dip into an adhesive pot 286. The pot 286 has a relatively deep portion 288. The adhesive is picked up from the relatively deep part 288 of the glue pot 286 and transferred into the adhesive pot proper by a gear 292 driven by a pinion 294. The pinion 294 is mounted on the shaft 284.

The adhesive, carried upwardly by the gear 292, passes into the adhesive pot proper over a wall 298 which serves to maintain the adhesive at a predetermined level for depositing the proper amount thereof on the pins 282. The pins 282, as they rotate, contact with the web W, thereby placing two spots of adhesive thereon at the positions indicated in Figure 18a at 283. The shaft 284 of the adhesive applying mechanism is driven by a sprocket 382 (see Figure 1) The sprocket 382 in turn is driven by a chain 384 and a sprocket 386. The sprocket 386 is mounted on the shaft 198 which is driven intermittently by the clutch mechanism 288, 282, 284. The chain 384 extends also around an idler sprocket 388 and a cutter drive sprocket 3l8 on a shaft 312.

The cutter shaft 3l2 has a cutter roll 3I3 thereon and a blade 314 projects from the roll (see Figure 10). The blade 3I4 is adapted to coact with a stationary blade 3l6 for severing the webs W and W on the dotted line I64 of Figure 10a.

The webs W and W are propelled between the cutting blades 314 and 3l6 onto the table T and individual wrappers, indicated as W, are sheared therefrom. The wrappers W" are then propelled by a pair of lower advancing belts 3I8 and 328 (see Figures 4, 5 and 6) to a position against a wrapper stop 3l9. The front belt is indicated at 318 and the rear one at 328. Upper feed belts at the front and rear are indicated at 322 and 324, respectively. The belts 3i8 and 328 pass around drive rollers 326 mounted on a shaft 328. They also pass over idler spools 325 and 321 and over an idler pulley 329. The shaft 328, as shown in Figure '1, is driven from the shaft 338 through a pinion 332 and a gear 334. The shaft 338 in turn is driven from the camshaft 5| by a chain 336. The chain passes over an idler 338 which rotates freely on the rock shaft H6.

The upper belt 322 is driven by a pulley 348 geared to the shaft 328 by a pinion 342 and a gear 344. The relative pitch diameters of the pinion and gear are such, in relation to the diameters of the pulleys 348 and 326, that the belts 318 and 322 travel at the same speed. A pressure roller 323 is carried by an arm 325 and is spring urged downwardly to cause the belt 322 to produce a good grip on the wrapper W" between the belts 3l8 and 322.

The belt 322, at its opposite end, drives a pulley 346 on a shaft 348. The shaft 348 has secured thereto a second pulley 358 which in turn drives the belt 324 at one of its ends. At its other end, the belt 324 passes over an idler pulley 352, and between the pulleys 358 and 352 is a second pressure roller 354. The roller 354 engages the belt 324 by weight, the roller being slidably mounted for vertical movement in a slot 361 of a bracket 362.

The pulley 348 and the pinion 342 at one end of the belt assembly are mounted on a shaft 341 the beltsto be wrapped within the wrapper supported by the belts.

The means for elevating the bar and card includes a vertical, stationary guide bar 364 along which a block 366 is adapted to reciprocate (see Figure 4). The bar 364 is supported by brackets 365 and 361 at its lower and upper ends. For reciprocating the block 366, I provide an arm 368 and a link 318. The arm 368 is secured to the rock shaft H6 and thereby the block 366 is elevated each revolution of the main shaft 24. Secured to the sides of the block 366 are a pair of elevating bars 312, having card supporting blocks indicatedat 314. Folding guide blades 316 extend upwardly from the bars 312 and are adapted to pass the ends of the cards C, with the bars 312 straddling the pocket 68, as shown in Figure 4.

A wrapper creasing member having end elements 318, and front and rear side creasing blades 388 spanning the elements, isassociated with the card and bar elevator for imparting an initial crease to the wrapper along the upper front and rear edges of the package." The wrapper creasing member, as shown in Figure 4, is supported on vertically reciprocable rods 382. The rods 382 areslidable in stationary bearings 384. The lower ends of the rods 382 are connected by links 386 to rock arms 388. The rock arms are carried by a rock shaft 398 having an operating lever 392 extending therefrom. The lever 392 is operated by a link 394 having on its lower side a forked member 396 straddling the camshaft 5|. A cam 398 is provided on the camshaft for raising the lever 394 each revolution of the camshaft and thereby elevating the wrapper creasing blades 388, as shown in Figure 16, to form creases in the wrapper W, W. The creases are indicated at a and are formed by contact of the wrapper against the inner lower surfaces of a front plate 488 and a back plate 482 of the folding way FW. As the wrapper creasing member 318388 is elevated, it draws the front and rear marginal edges of the wrapper from between the belts 318 and 322 and off the top of the belt 328, as illustrated.

The folding way FW has its front plate 488 terminating ina thickened edge 486 at its upper end, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. Referring to Figure 15, the construction of the folding way will now be described.

The front plate 488 has projecting therefrom a pair of bosses 48l. Rods 483 are supported in the bosses and in turn support folding plates 484. Above the plates 484 are folding guides 485 formed as part of the back plate 482 (which has been omitted from Figure 15 as the section line for this figure is taken just ahead of the back plate 482; the general outline of the back plate 482, however, has been indicated in dotted lines). Above the folding guides 485, other folding guides 481 are formed on the front plate 488.

The back plate 482 has a pair of forward projections 489 and a pair of rearward projections 4| I. Pivoted to each-projection 4 is a candy bar hold-down finger 4l3. The fingers 4l3 are biased downwardly by springs 4l5. Projecting upwardly from the back plate 402 is a pair of stop pins 4". The folder blade 458 is provided with a pair of slots 4I8 to clear the pins 4H and to also clear the spots,288 of adhesive, as will be later described.

After the sides and ends of the wrapper W" are folded as in Figures 18 and 19, the portions of the end flaps depending below the card C arefolded under the card as in Figure 20. This is '1 accomplished by end folding blades 408 carried by arms (see Figures 3 and 6). The arms 0 are pivoted to rock levers H2 and 4I4. The rock levers H2 and 4 are connected together for synchronous movement by a link 6.

Each arm 0 has a cam surface 8 supported on a roller 420. The purpose of this arrangement is to impart a swinging and thereby pressing action of the blades 408 upwardly against the wrapper to fold it tightly against the bottom of the card C.

For oscillating the rock arms H2 and 4 in synchronism with the rest of the machine, I provide an arm 422 secured to a shaft 424 on which the rock arm M2 is mounted. A link 428 extends downwardly from the arm 422' (see Figure 9) and connects with a bell crank 428 pivoted at 430 to the frame of the machine. The bell crank 428 carries a roller 432 riding against a cam 434. A spring 438 biases the roller against the surface of the cam. The cam 434 is mounted on the camshaft I which, it will be recalled, is driven by the chain 55 from the main shaft 24.

Before the folding guide members 316 and the candy bar supporting blocks 314 of the elevator bars 312 recede downwardly to permit the end folding blades 408 to operate, the card C is supported at points spaced inwardly from its ends by a forked arcuate arm 440 (see Figures 2, 6, 18 and 19). The arm 440 is mounted on a rock shaft 442 which has a lever 444 connected by a link 446with a rock lever 448. The rock lever 448 carries a roller 450 riding against a cam 452 on the shaft 84. A spring 454 biases the roller to engage the cam.

After the package is folded as in Figure 20, the portion of the back side flap depending below the card C is folded under the card by a folding blade 456. The blade 456 is formed at the front end of an arm 451. The arm has a lower cam surface 458, as shown in Figure 2 supported on blade is pivoted to a lever 464 mounted on a shaft 488. The shaft 466 is carried by a bracket 468 which also supports the roller 460.

For operating the blade 456 in synchronism with the rest of the machine, I provide a link 410 connecting an arm 412 on the shaft 466 with an arm 414 pivoted to the frame of the machine at 416, as shown in Figure 1. The arm 414 carries a roller 418 held against a cam 480 by a spring 482. The cam 480 is mounted on the camshaft 5|.

A wrapped bar conveyor is provided for discharging the wrapped bars WB from the machine to any desired point, such as a discharge chute 484. This conveyor includesa conveyor chain 486 supported for operation on a frame 488. The usual sprockets are provided for the conveyor chain 486 and one of them is mounted on a shaft 480 driven by a chain 482 from the shaft 86. The shaft 480 is supported in a pair of brackets 484 which in turn are: supported by rods 488 extending forwardly from the frame of the machine.

The conveyor frame 488 may be swung upwardly about the shaft 480 as a pivot for the purpose of conveniently getting at the folding mechanism and removing any bars or wrappers that might have become distorted during the wrapping operation and tend to clog the folding way or other parts of the machine. The rear end of the frame 488- has a stud 488 extending from each side thereof and resting on set screws 500 carried by brackets 502 extending upwardly from the table T and from the front frame member F. The brackets 502 also support the shaft 442 on which the forked arm 440 is mounted and support the folding way FW. The set screws 500 are properly adjusted so that when the studs 488 of the conveyor frame 488 rest thereon, carriers 504 of the conveyor will just clear a platform 508 along which the wrapped candy bars are slid by the carriers.

The carriers 504 are spaced along the chain 486 and each one has a finger 508 pivoted thereto and biased by a spring 5|0 to the closed positions illustrated along the top stretch of the conveyor chain 486. Each finger 508 is opened relative to its carrier 504 by a roller 5I2 carried by the frame 488 at the proper time (just prior to the carrier 504 engaging a candy bar that has been wrapped). As the rear end of the finger 608 leaves the roller 5I2, the spring 5I0 recloses the finger relative to the carrier to firmly grip the wrapped bar WB and urge it toward the platform 506. The bar is thereupon slid from its supported position on the forked arm 440, across the forward edge 406 of the folding way FW and onto the platform 506. This operation folds the remaining (front) depending flap shown at I in Figure 21 against the bottom of the card under the bar and causes the spots of adhesive at 288 to contact with the back bottom fiap and cause it to adhere thereto.

Under the platform 506 is an electric heater 5. The heater 5 serves to set the adhesive 283 so that when the wrapped bars are finally for the roller 5I8 and on the shaft a sprocket 524 is provided which is driven by the discharge conveyor operating chain 482.

, Practical operation In the operation of my machine, assuming that there is a proper supplyof cards C in the hopper I00 and a proper supply of webs W and W on the reels R and R, the machine may be started by throwing the toggle switch S to on position. To retain it in this position, the manual control lever 36 is lifted as in Figure 12 thereby causing coaction of the latch 40 with the hook 38. Cards C will now be supplied to each of the pockets 60 of the bar and card conveyor 58, the conveyor being intermittently operated and each pocket halting in front of the discharge slot I03 of the hopper. Instead of the cards being carried through the machine, however, they will be discharged therefrom by the card lifting rod I34. The spring I32 acts to keep the rod I34 in its elevated position for this purpose and such elevated position is possible because the card C is comparatively light in weight. The card is therefore tipped by the rod I34 so that it will slide out of the pocket and engagement of the card with the guide rOd I36 further tips the card to insure that it will slide completely from the pocket as desired.

Since there are no candy bars to engage the finger 2I8 of the clutch operating rock shaft'2I4, the mechanism for feeding the webs W and W to the machine and for cutting them into individual wrappers will remain inoperative.

The operator may now place candy bars (or other articles to be wrapped) on the bar conveyor 44 -between the lugs 56 thereof. Since these lugs are timed in their movement with th pockets 68, each time a pocket halts in alignment with the conveyor 44, a bar B will be de posited on the card C that has been previously deposited in the pocket from the hopper I88.

The cards and bars are thereupon advanced h forwardly in the machine past the stop plate 42. If any of the bars are longer than the distance between the sides 4| and 43, they will engage the stop plate 42, or if any of them in the conveyor 44 are too large in diameter, they will lift the stop plate 39 and thereby release the latch 48 from the hook 38. This operation permits the arm 31 (see Figure 12) to be raised by the spring 41 and move the switch S to off position. The bar that struck the stop plate 39 or the stop plate 42 is then removed from the machine by the operator as it is either too thick or too long to be wrapped properly.

When one of the bars finally reaches a position so that it contacts with the lever 2I8, the

clutch operating rock shaft 2I4 will be rocked for the purpose of swinging the clutch operating arm 222 to a position that permits the hook 226 of the dog 284 to engage in the notch of the constantly rotating clutch disc 288. This will cause the shaft I98 to rotate one revolution if only one bar passes by, and contacts with the arm 2| 8, or to keep it continuously rotating as long as there are bars in the successive pockets. In this way, a wrapper is cut from the web and fed to wrapping position only when a bar also comes to wrapping position.

The web feeding and cutting mechanism is normally operated by the high speed belt I92 at a speed somewhat higher than required to feed one wrapper W" to the machine during one revolution of the shaft I98 which corresponds to one candy bar coming to wrapping position. The purpose of this is to compensate for any possible slippage of the webs as they are propelled to the belts 3I8, 328, 322 and 324. To cause the.

cutter bar 3I4 to function at the proper point in the length of the webs (at the dotted line I64 in Figure 1011), the electric eye viewing mechanism I58 is provided. Whenever one of the marks I62 of the web W passes the eye, it effects energization of the solenoid 256.

Energization of the solenoid depresses the stop arm 246 (see Figure 10, dotted position) to, permit the high speed belt I92 to be loosened and the low speed belt I93 to be tightened, thus slowing down, for a variable period of time, the rotation of the shaft I96 driven from the shaft I98. Whenever one of the marks I62 is the maximum distance ahead of where it should be (resulting from no slippage), then the maximum period of speed reducing is effective. When there is slippage, then the mark will not be so far ahead of its required position for proper operation of the blade 3I4 at the dotted line I64 and consequently the solenoid 256 will be energized at a relatively later period in the rotation of the shaft I98, thereby reducing the time period of speed reducing of the mechanism.

During each revolution of the shaft I98 (which rotates at the same speed as the main shaft I24), the solenoid will be energized to permit the spring 244 to shift the mechanism to slow speed position. The cam 218, each revolution of the main shaft, will reset the mechanism to high speed position until the solenoid is again energized.

The next step in the operation consists of the wrapper creasing member 318-388 forming the creases at a (see Figures 16 and 17) The creasing elements or blades 388, it will be noted, are

folding guide blades 316, rise into the folding way. The wrapper, together with the bar and card, are thereupon elevated by the elevator, as shown in Figure 1'1, with the blocks 314 of the bars 312 engaging the card C adjacent its ends and the folding guide blades 316 extending up beyond the ends of the card to support the wrapper spaced above the bar B. The relative positions of these parts are also shown in Figure 18.

As the bar, card and wrapper are elevated through the folding way, the folding blades 484 thereof first engage the ends b of the top of the wrapper extending beyond the'upper edges of the blades 316 and fold them downwardly, as shown in Figure 19. The flaps b are confined between the folding guide'blade 316 and (successively) the inner faces of the folding blades 484 and the folding guide members 485 and 481. The upper edges of the blades 316, it will be noted, are beveled to form a definite crease along the ends of i the upper edge of the bar, as indicated at c.

The sides of the wrapper along the front and rear sides of the bar B extend beyond the blades 316, as indicated at d and e. These portions form end flaps, the flaps at being engaged by the folding guide members 485 of the folding way and partially folded, whereuponthe flaps (1 pass upwardly through slots 4| 9 between the blade 484 and the member 485. The flaps e are then en- The flaps d and e eventually pass through a slot 42I between the folding members 485 and 481 to assume the position vof Figure 19.

The folding guide blades 316 form a solid support against which the fiaps b, d and e are folded as they pass through the slots M9 and 42I. This keeps the ends of the package square, regardless of the shape of the ends of the bar B.

The package is now ready for support of the card, bar and wrapper on the forked arm 448. The arm swings upwardly to theposition shown in Figure 19, whereupon the elevator bars 312, the supporting blocks 314 and the folding guide blades 316 are lowered out of the way of the end folder blades 488.

The supporting ends of the forked arm 448 are spaced inwardly from the ends of the card C so that when theend folder blades 488 subsequently move inwardly and swing upwardly, due to their pivotal mountings on the arms 2 and the cam and roller arrangement at 4I8--428,

the arm will not interfere with the operation of the blades. The blades 406 fold the portions of the flaps d and e depending below the card C to a position under the card and then support the partially wrapped bar, while the back folding blade 456 moves into folding position. Such movement is forwardly and the blade 456 also swings upwardly. due to its connection with the arm 464 and the cam and roller arrangement 456460. It is believed obvious, from an inspection of Figure 20, how the blade 456 functions. As itmoves forwardly, it swings the depending rear flap at under the card C and the clprocating elevator adapted to engage and elevate the article and card through said way, folding guide members extending above the article on the elevator to engage the wrapper and slots MS of the blade clear the stop pins 4i! and also clear the spots of adhesive 263. When the blade 456 is pulled backwardly, the stop pins prevent the candy bar from being pulled back with it. Also, the bar is held to some extent by the hold-down fingers 3, which prevent any undesired upward movement of the bar relative to the blades 408.

Finally one of the carriers 504, as shown in Figure 21, engages the bar while the finger 506 is being released from the roller 5l2, thus closing the carrier and finger about the bar and giving the carrier a firm grip on the bar. The carrier then slides the bar over the upper edge 406 of the front plate of the folding way and onto the platform 506. This operation swings the front flap 9 rearwardly under the bar and against the flap f to which it adheres as the flap f has the adhesive spots 283 facing downwardly thereon.

As the wrapped bar is slid along the platform 506, the heater 5 sets the adhesive of the wrapped bar WB. The wrapped bars are discharged from the carriers by the rear ends of the fingers 500 engaging a second roller 5l3 car- I ried bythe conveyor frame 488, thus opening the In the present application, I have described the web feeding and cutting mechanism without directing any claims thereto. This mechanism is described in further detail and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 317,369, filed February 5, 1940.

Having described one specific embodiment of my invention together with the operation thereof, I desire it to be understood that this form is selected merely for the purpose of facilitating disclosure of the invention rather than for the purpose of limiting the number of forms which it may assume. It is to be further understood that various modifications, adaptations and alterations may be applied to the specific form disclosed to meet the requirements of practice without in any manner departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention except as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

I claim as my invention and. desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In a wrapping machine for articles, mechanism for folding a wrapper about the top and sides of an article and across the edges of a card associated therewith comprising a vertical folding way having side and end folding plates, a reelevate it with the article through said way and to space the wrapper from the article during folding whereby to form a square edged package regardless of the shape of said article, means for thereafter folding the portions of the end flaps depending below the card to a position beneath it comprising end folder blades, means for supporting each of said end folder blades comprising a rock arm pivoted to the outer end thereof, a roller supporting the inner end thereof and a cam surface on said blade adjacent the inner end thereof and supported on said roller, said cam surface being shaped to swing the blade up under the card and article as the blade is moved longitudinally inward by the rock arm, and means to thereafter fold the side flaps depending below said card to a position beneath the card.

2. In a wrapping machine for articles, mechanism for folding a wrapper about the top and sides of an article and across the edges of a card associated therewith comprising a vertical folding way having side and end folding plates, a reciprocating creasing member cooperating with the wrapper and with the folding way to effect the formation of initial creases in the wrapper prior to draping of the wrapper around the article, a reciprocating elevator adapted to engage and elevate the article and card through said way, folding guide members extending above'the article on the elevator to engage the wrapper between the creases thereof and elevate it with the article through said way and to space the wrapper from the article during folding whereby to form a square edged package regardless of the shape of said article, means for thereafter folding the portions of the end flaps depending below the card to a position beneath it comprising end folder blades, means for supporting each of said end folder blades comprising a rock arm pivoted to the outer end thereof, a roller supporting the inner, end thereof and a cam surface on said blade adjacent the inner end thereof and supported on said roller, said cam surface being shaped to swing the blade up under the card and article as the blade is moved longitudinally inward by the rock arm, and means to thereafter fold the side flaps depending below said card to a position beneath the card. v

3. In a wrapping machine for articles, mechanism for folding a wrapper about the top and sides of an article and card comprising a vertical folding way having side and end, folding plates, a creasing member engaging said wrapper to place initial crease therein, a reciprocating elevator adapted to engage and elevate the article and card through said way, folding guide members extending above the article on the elevator to engage the wrapper and elevate it with the article through said way, and means for thereafter folding the portions of the end and side flaps of the wrapper depending below the card to a position beneath the card.

4. In a wrapping machine for articles, mechanism for'folding a wrapper about the top and sides of an article and card comprising a vertical folding way having side and end folding plates, a creasing member engaging said wrapper to place initial creases therein, said creasing member comprising a pairof end members mounted for vertical reciprocation, a pair of elevate: having fielding: guiar blgdes movable' membrmnirciprocating ielvator'iadapted to engage ahd "ele; vate theeranticle andcard throughsaid way, said positin; fblding me'gns qmpris i xja a M 3; 'd plates h erili ofthe art1cie,-' *foiiier-blad for one side upiar en of the article, means for propelling said end 7 neath the card.

10. In a wrapping machine, means for elevatinganirregulararticletobewrapped,acard lying beneath the same and a wrapper past in strumentalities for draping the sides and ends of the wrapper around the article, said means comprising a pair of creasing blades, means for engaging said creasing blades with the wrapper, an elevator to thereafter engage the card, folding guide members to engage the wrapper and support it spaced from the article, means for raising the elevator and the folding guide members, means for folding the ends of the wrapper around and beneath the card, comprising a pair of horizontal movable plates, means for shifting said plates inwardly into engagement with the ends of the draped wrapper, means for folding one side of the draped wrapper around and beneath the card comprising a third plate, means for shifting the third plate inwardly into engagement with one side of the draped wrapper, and means for folding the other side of the draped wrapper around and beneath the card comprising means for moving the partially wrapped article transversely of said other side.

11. In a wrapping machine, means for elevating an irregular article to be wrapped, a card lying beneath the same and a wrapper past instrumentalities for draping the sides and ends of the wrapper around the article, means for folding the ends of the draped wrapper around and beneath the card, means for folding one side of the draped wrapper around and beneath the card comprising a rock arm, a folding plate having one end pivoted thereto, means for shifting the rock arm and plate inwardly toward the wrapper, means comprising a roller for supporting the other end of the plate for pivotally moving the plate upwardly during said inward shifting to swing the side of the wrapper toward the bottom of the card, said plate having a cam surface coacting with said roller, means for folding the other side of the draped wrapper aroimd and beneath the card comprising a platform, and means for moving the partially wrapper article transversely of said other side onto said platform and for moving it along the platform in intimate contact therewith.

12. In a wrapping machine, means for elevating an irregular article to be wrapped, a card lyingbeneaththesameandawrapperpastinstrumentalities for draping the sides and ends of the wrapper around the article, means for folding the ends of the draped wrapper around andbeneaththecard,meansforfoldingoneside of the draped wrapper around and beneath the card comprising a rock arm, a folding plate having one end pivoted thereto, means for shifting therockarmandplateinwardlytowardthe pp means comp s a roller for supporting the other end of the plate for pivotally moving the plate upwardly during said inward shiftingtoswingthesideofthewrappertowardthe bottom of the card, said plate having a cam surface coacting with said roller, means for folding the other side of the draped wrapper around and beneath the card comprising a discharge conveyor having openable, spring closed carriers for moving the partially wrapped article transversely of said other side onto said platform and for moving it along the platform, and means for opening said carriers prior to engaging the articles to move them and at the discharge end of the conveyor to release them.

13, In a wrapping machine, means for elevatinganarticletobewrapped,acardlyingbeneath the same and a wrapper past instrumentalities for draping the sides and ends of the wrapper around the article, means for folding the ends of the draped wrapper around and beneath the card, means for folding one side of the draped wrapper around and beneath the card, means for folding the other side of the draped wrapper around and beneath the card comprising a discharge conveyor for engaging and moving the partially wrapped article transversely of said other side, said conveyor being pivotally mounted at its discharge end, and stops for limiting the position of the other end relative to the platform, said conveyor being thereby swingable upwardly away from the stops to readily gain access to said instrumentalities and said folding means to gain accessto any improperly wrapped article under said conveyor or adjacent said instrumentalities and said folding means.

14. In a wrapping machine, means forelevating an article to be wrapped, a card lying beneath the same and a wrapper past instrumentalities for draping the sides and ends of the wrapper around the article, means for folding the ends and sides of the wrapper around and beneath the card, a'platform, a discharge conveyor for engaging and moving the wrapped articles along said platform, said conveyor being pivotally mounted at its discharge end, and a stop for limiting the position of the other end relative to the platform, said conveyor being thereby swingable upwardly away from the stop and platform to readily gain access to said folding mechanism and to any improperly wrapped article on said platform.

15. In a wrapping machine for elevating an article to be wrapped, a card lying beneath the same and a wrapper past instrumentalities for draping the sides and ends of the wrapper around the article, means for folding the ends and sides of the wrapper around and beneath the card, a platform, a discharge conveyor for engaging and moving the wrapped articles along said platform, a chute at the discharge end of said platform, belts adapted to receive wrapped articles discharged periodically from said conveyor and discharge them onto said chute in positions aligned with each other, said conveyor being pivotally mounted at its discharge end, and a stop for limiting the position of the other end relative to the platform, said conveyor being thereby swingable upwardly away from the stop and platform to readily gain access to said folding mechanism and to any improperly wrapped article on said platform.

16. In a wrapping machine for elevating an article to be wrapped, a cord lying beneath the same and a wrapper past instrumentalities for draping the sides and ends of the wrapper around the article, means for folding the ends and sides of the wrapper around and beneath the card, a platform, a discharge conveyor for engaging and moving the wrapped articles along said platform, 

